# Surfing the net via a proxy service - how safe?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 17, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955 "2001-11-17T17:30:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/1 "2001-11-17T17:30:23Z")
I was reading an article about “safe surfing” and the use of proxy services like [SafeWeb.com](http://SafeWeb.com). How do you know the proxy service isn’t recording your excursions through the net? If so, could they turn you over to the authorities if you were doing something you weren’t supposed to?
Also, how much credence is given to such info? I know that my ISP address is recorded on websites I visit, but how would this hold up in court? Especially if the authorities find no evidence on my computer that I was there.
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/2 "2001-11-17T17:51:20Z")
Companies like SafeWeb aren’t ‘safe’. They do keep logs of your visits ( [http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/22331.html](http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/22331.html) ).
And from the follow-up article ( [http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/22831.html](http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/22831.html) ):
> [@](#):
>
> Useful but not foolproof. Of course the proxy machine’s admin can easily learn that you connected to it after perusing his logs, so a proxy doesn’t actually conceal you; it just adds a layer between you and whatever you’re contacting on the Net. This layer can be thick or thin, depending on where the proxy machine is physically located. If your proxy is located in a country unlikely to cooperate with requests for their logs from foreign officials, or a country where your mother tongue is rarely spoken, it can be, in practical terms if not theoretical terms, quite an effective layer of protection.
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### Author:  [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/3 "2001-11-17T21:52:15Z")
But isn’t proxy hunting, like, hacking another server to cover your tracks?
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### Author:  [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/5 "2001-11-18T01:15:31Z")
And be advised that the admins on this board look askance at proxy visitors.
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### Author:  [@VeraGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeraGemini)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/6 "2001-11-18T01:41:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ringo \*
> \*\*And be advised that the admins on this board look askance at proxy visitors. \*\*
And many other MBs have already banned the IPs of every anonymizing proxy they know of.
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### Author:  [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2001, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/7 "2001-11-18T07:23:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by VeraGemini \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by Ringo \*
> > \*\*And be advised that the admins on this board look askance at proxy visitors. \*\*
>
> And many other MBs have already banned the IPs of every anonymizing proxy they know of. \*\*
Um, why?
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### Author:  [@VeraGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeraGemini)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2001, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/8 "2001-11-18T10:16:25Z")
Because trolls are known to use them so they can return over and over again with new, disposable (sock puppet) accounts, and/or post their drivel without fear of being reported to their ISPs. Pre-emptive strike, as it were.
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2001, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surfing-the-net-via-a-proxy-service-how-safe/93955/9 "2001-11-18T11:28:05Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ol’ Stewball \*
> \*\*The main use for proxy servers is to keep evidence of porn sites from residing on your hard disk.
> This is does admirably - your spouse or boss will never know where you’ve been surfing.
>
> If you want it to cover your tracks laundering money or arranging arms-smuggling deals, then expect a visit from a man in a badge. \*\*
If you’ve had something dodgy on your screen, there’s a good chance it can still be found on the HD. Forensic software is amazing these days…